Health and life issues

Health is the second most-searched-for subject on the Web. When we are ill, we need answers. The Internet has empowered people to understand more about health issues, and often to find support from other sufferers. Online message boards enable sufferers and their carers to share in mutual personal support.

Health-related pages therefore offer an important way that Christians can reach out to others in a sensitive and caring way which is biblical. If you have (or used to have) any particular illness, emotional or trauma problem, you are in the ideal situation to help others who face the same thing. Indeed, one of the reasons that God allows these things into our lives is that we are then able to understand and help others in the same situation. (2 Corinthians 1:4) Our suffering can be used redemptively for others.

There are many Christian pages on different illnesses and problems. Unfortunately, a problem that some of them share (along with many church websites) is that they are designed very much for Christians in terms of language and content, and often give the impression that they are only for Christians who have the health problem, rather than for anyone. This is sad, because those who most need help may feel excluded. Health sites for outreach should have a high number on the X-Spectrum.

To be accessible to non-Christians, health pages should:

• avoid Christian jargon and idiom
• assume visitors have minimal Christian knowledge
• choose an appropriate name
• avoid 'Christian' graphics – crosses, angels and related themes
• be written with a welcoming and gentle spirit, avoiding a preachy approach

A health page gives the scope for lots of practical advice on coping with the problem. It may be wise to put the Christian content 'behind' this initial advice so that it is there when people are ready for it. The most obvious angle to take is your own personal story (don't call it a testimony) of how your relationship with God makes the difference in coping with sickness.

You can make your site more useful to others by including links to the best secular pages relating to the problem. It is also wise to include a disclaimer that you are not offering medical advice and that people should always seek help from appropriate qualified health professionals.

Here are some problem/health-related and disability pages which are either written for non-Christians, or are (to varying degrees) accessible to non-Christians as well as Christians:

• Jon's site includes links and information relating to heart problems, therefore greatly increasing its general interest.
• Running Empty – for general problems and worries. Note that wisely, there is nothing on the front page which indicates that this is a Christian page. [Feedback from site]
• TroubledWith a sensitive lowkey common-sense approach from Focus on the Family, very accessible to non-Christians and covering many life problems.
• Women Today Magazine covers many life and health issues within a very extensive and effective site.
• Rest Ministries for those with chronic illness or pain plus information on setting up a support ministry.
• Annie´s Page has a large section on her site on a similar theme.
• Season of Peace covers panic attacks.
• Lemon into lemonade – Christian diabetic resource page.
• Post-Polio Syndrome Resources – a little-known health problem.
• Hannah's Prayer – support for the childless.
• SIDS Infant death – a couple who lost their daughter created this page.
• Parkinson's Disease – by a retired missionary.
• Walking Wounded – help for a wide range of life problems.
• Safe Haven: post-abortion trauma.
• Christians in Recovery offers a large range of recovery-oriented pages, some of which are accessible to non-Christians.
• Lifeway helps – selected links to a range of help pages.
• Narramore Christian Foundation – mental health issues.
• 2hearts – help for those facing major heart illness.
• Christian Miscarriage Support Group
• Possibly Pregnant – Corvallis Pregnancy Care Center
• Online Guidance – Gospelcom's help pages for a variety of problems, for non-Christians, with link to a gospel presentation
• NAMB Helplink – useful advice for a number of life problem areas
• Please tell us of other good pages to add to this list.

A health page can include a two-way email discussion list, or one-way newsletter. Indeed, a support discussion list can operate without a backup site at all, using a resource such as YahooGroups.

There are many hurting people out there looking for answers on the Web. It is important to meet them where they are, and not see them as preaching-fodder. If you have the opportunity to learn counseling skills, take it. There are sparetime courses and books. Counseling training helps us to understand how people think and react, and how to come alongside them. It is a wonderful skill to learn, and helps in any sort of evangelistic ministry.

If you have a health-related website, or single page, submit it to Online Health Resources.

Disability

The Internet has empowered many disabled people to have an extensive ministry from their computer. Of course, that ministry need not necessarily relate to their particular disability at all. The beauty of the Internet is that it can place disabled people on a 'level-playing field' in relation to others.

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